Originally produced for cable and home video as a documentary project, the Classic Albums series offers in-depth profiles of enduring rock and pop albums built around first-person interviews with the artists, producers, a... more &raquond musicians that created them. Their strong sonic debt makes their DVD issues problematic, since the segments aren't intended to replace the original audio recordings, only to expand on them. If you haven't heard these albums, nearly all of them landmarks in late-20th-century pop, then this isn't the place to start. If you know the originals, however, these smartly written, well-produced documentaries can open up a richer understanding of the genesis for each album. Who's Next proves a terrific candidate for this deep-focus approach: in songwriter and chief strategist Pete Townshend, we're presented with one of the most thoughtful, articulate rock gods extant. His own capacity for self-analysis, as well as an underlying empathy for the band's original Mod fans, translated directly into the band's songs. Townshend's sense of daring had already yielded a more conspicuous rock landmark with Tommy, the "rock opera" that preceded what eventually emerged as Who's Next, which seemed comparatively straightforward, an album of songs without an obvious narrative thread. In fact, Townshend had sought to carry the theatrical underpinnings of Tommy to a higher, interactive level by creating a sprawling stage piece, Lifehouse, that would use the theater space and the involvement of fans to expand on the studio conception that yielded his saga of that deaf, dumb, and blind kid. Who's Next thus emerges as something of a mirror for the listener--for Townshend, the reductive but still potent remnant of a grand, white elephant, for the rest of the band simply their best album. Surviving members Townshend, bassist John Entwistle, and vocalist Roger Daltrey provide generous comments on the history of the project, and interviews with managers, press agents, and writers, including biographer Dave Marsh, all reinforce the sense that, however chimerical Lifehouse itself proved, it produced a rich set of songs honed by the live performances they received during the project's chaotic development as a de facto theatrical laboratory. --Sam Sutherland&laquo less

Movie Reviews

If you are a Who fanatic you'll dig it

Peter Alerich | 08/22/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a fan of the Classic Rock DVD series. The two best titles I have seen are the Fleetwood Mac "Rumours" and Elton John "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" titles. This installment about The Who's "Who's Next" album was a bit of a disappointment to me. It's more about the background of the album than the recording process as in the FM and EJ discs I mentioned earlier. Too much filler and too little insight to the actual recording of the album. I was very excited to get this item but rather let down after viewing it."

ONE OF THE GREATEST ALBUMS EVER RECORDED

Mike Zlotnicki | Nashville, Tennessee,USA | 12/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"At 13 yrs.old, Christmas of 1971, my grandmother got me the album as a present from my wish list. As the years have passed I've rebought on cassette, 8 track, 2 CD upgrades to the Deluxe Edition, and now the DVD. I've turned countless friends on to the album, including my son, and am working on my grandson. Every track shines. Not a loser in the bunch. But then, the original lineup never disappointed in my opinion. Recommend highly. Love when they disect an album at the mixing board !"

Excellent!

Peter Kryvor | Dunmore, PA | 06/26/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This DVD is EXCELLENT! It not only features video clips of The Who doing material from the album, but it also features clips of how Pete Townshend put together a lot of the album. Also, there is some great footage about Keith Moon towards the end."

Great concept for a documentary. Great Album

Narut Ujnat | San Diego, CA USA | 03/09/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I took a chance and got this DVD because "Who's Next" is really one of the greatest albums of all time, and one of my personal favorites.

I came away with some real insights into the Who. First, these were fantastic musicians. Second, Townshend is really a great musical talent. Third, you realize that music just isn't at the same level any more. Not because there are not great musicians around, but rather the art form itself has changed. It is because this current generation has moved onto other musical forms. The concept album doesn't speak to younger generations. Too bad, because The Who show what power great rock music can have. It truly is a great art form.

When I heard this album in college, I was blown away. From Baba O'Riley - which is not about getting wasted, but rather is about wasted life - to Won't Get Fooled Again, the quality of the music is amazing.

You will get to see acoustic performances of several songs, a discussion of the Lifehouse concept which led to Who's Next (you could call it Townshend's Smile), several engineers discussing the individual tracks and how the totality of the music was created, and interviews with Townshend, Entwistle and Daltrey. This documentary makes you realize just how much work goes into creating great music.

Truly, a terrific concept for a documentary. I would recommend this wholeheartedly."